The Lakers have moved on to a new centerpiece, but LeBron James is still very much part of the conversation.
Los Angeles has shifted into the Luka Doncic era after eight seasons with James as the face of the franchise. Doncic is the player expected to carry the Lakers forward and chase the kind of heights the organization has long been known for. It’s a big assignment, but one the Lakers believe he’s ready to handle.
James, meanwhile, is now trying to add another chapter elsewhere. He left Los Angeles for Philadelphia this past summer and signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers that includes a player option for the second year. The four-time NBA champion is now pursuing his fifth title with Philadelphia, and there’s a chance he finishes his NBA career there.
Even with that move, James’ legacy in Los Angeles is secure. His run with the Lakers had its highs and lows, but it still put him among the greatest players ever to wear purple and gold. At 41, and with 24 seasons behind him, he has already done just about everything a player can do.
Still, the GOAT debate keeps following him, and NFL legend Terrell Owens jumped right into it. On his recent podcast, Get TO the Point, the Hall of Famer pointed to James’ killer instinct - or what he sees as a lack of it - as the reason he doesn’t view him as the greatest of all time.
That criticism has trailed James for years. A lot of the pushback centers on the idea that he doesn’t attack the game the way Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant did, that he doesn’t always demand the final shot or carry himself with the same kind of visible aggression. Fair or not, that’s been part of the argument around him for a long time.
But the clutch numbers and moments are hard to ignore. James owns the NBA record for the most playoff buzzer-beaters, and his block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals remains one of the defining plays in league history.
Owens is free to hold his view. Even so, James’ place in the game’s upper tier is not up for debate.
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Luka Doncic Is Fueling A Lakers Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Luka Doncics arrival has given the Lakers a different kind of spotlight, and not all of it has been about his production. NBA analyst Bill Simmons recently took aim at Doncics on-court demeanor, arguing that the star guard has become increasingly difficult to watch because of the way he reacts to officials and carries himself during games. It is the sort of criticism that follows a player everywhere once it starts, especially when that player is expected to be the centerpiece of a title chase.
For the Lakers, the bigger issue is that the noise around Doncics body language keeps colliding with how well he is actually playing. He has continued to perform at a high level and does not appear bothered by the commentary, which only adds to the split-screen debate: one side sees an elite talent who can tilt games, while the other sees a star whose constant complaints risk becoming part of the story every night. [Read more 🡒]
Lukas Latest MVP Push Has Mavericks Fans Watching One New Twist
Luka Doni has opened the season looking every bit like an early MVP candidate, piling up huge scoring nights while also showing a sharper edge on the defensive end. The Lakers have ridden that surge to a 6-2 start, with Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler helping steady the rotation around him even as the bench has been a weak spot.
What has made this stretch especially interesting is that Doni is doing more than just carrying the offense. His all-around impact has given the Lakers a different kind of ceiling, and it has Mavericks fans watching closely for the latest twist in a storyline they know well. If this level of two-way play holds, the conversation around him could get even louder before long. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Hot Start Is Fueling A LeBron Debate Fans Can't Ignore
The Lakers early 6-2 start without LeBron James has already turned into a bigger conversation than just a hot opening stretch. On a recent episode of the Game Over podcast, Max Kellerman and Rich Paul offered two very different reads on why Los Angeles has looked so sharp in the 2026-27 season, with the debate quickly shifting from the record itself to what it says about the teams identity.
Kellerman saw James departure as the opening that let Luka Doncic settle in as the clear leader, while Paul pushed back on the idea that James leaving was the key variable. He pointed instead to the Lakers improved defense and the way the roster has come together, leaving the larger question hanging over a team that has started to look comfortable without the player who defined it for so long. [Read more 🡒]